Shihōin Naraku quickly scanned the contents of the Intelligence Scroll. It detailed another Akatsuki base that Iwagakure had uncovered.
"The Land of Bears?"
"It's not far. The Land of Bears happens to border the Land of Birds, but this means the Allied Shinobi Forces are heading farther and farther off the beaten path!"
"Am I imagining things? It feels like this base is another one Akatsuki deliberately exposed to draw my attention!"
Naraku thought it over carefully, put away the Intelligence Scroll, and asked the Iwa Shinobi commander, "The terrain in the Land of Bears is a little troublesome. If the Allied Shinobi Forces are going in, we'd better have a guide! Has Iwagakure sent anyone to notify the Land of Bears?"
Since the Allied Shinobi Forces were hunting down Akatsuki, they would enter the territories of many countries.
Although they had the backing of the Five Great Nations, the Allied Shinobi Forces would not force their way into another country's territory unless necessary.
Before taking action, the Five Great Nations therefore needed to notify the daimyo or leaders of those countries in advance.
Having help from the locals would benefit the Allied Shinobi Forces' operations.
"Sir, the Third Tsuchikage has already sent someone to notify the Land of Bears. They've agreed to let us enter, and the guide they've arranged is waiting for us at the border."
"Good."
"Pass the order down. We leave in half an hour!"
"Yes, sir!"
The territory occupied by the Land of Bears lay largely in a remote region of the Shinobi World and rarely attracted its attention.
This was despite the Land of Bears having a small Shinobi Village of its own, Hoshigakure!
The founding of this Shinobi Village had stemmed from a Meteorite that fell from the sky!
This Meteorite was